If our homes are responsible for 25% of the UK's contribution to global warming and we've taken all measures possible to adequately insulate the building, what else can we do? Simply turning things off - unnecessary lights or standbys can save pounds in a year; likewise turning the heating thermostat down a degree or two. Silver foil attached to the wall behind radiators helps to reflect out all possible heat. Remember to put lids on saucepans, make sure flames just cover the bottom of the pan, and change to energy saving bulbs. Don't boil a whole kettle full of water for only one cup of tea!
Garden and DIY products are enjoying growing markets thanks to TV programmes, but do we really need a makeover? In 2002 Gloucestershire County Council had to find an extra £300,000 to deal with the disposal of fridges, and as one councillor noted, the tragedy was that most of them were in good working order. When it is necessary to buy a new fridge, washing nachine etc. look for the energy rating label. This will tell you how energy efficient the appliance is. Cheaper machines are usually less energy efficient so in the long run they will prove to be more expensive to run.
Much of what we consume focuses around celebrations or rituals - Christmas, birthdays, weddings and funerals. There are plenty of alternatives to ending up with mounds of used wrapping paper, discarded trees and wilting flowers. Gifts of local art, a subscription to a magazine, a ticket to something special, sponsorship of a tree through an organisation like the Woodland Trust have a much more lasting impact.
Avoid buying flowers out of season and buy seasonal plants instead - this cuts down on air miles travelled. Most of the funeral directors in the Forest will accomodate the wishes of people who want a willow, cardboard or bamboo coffin, although there is no woodland cemetery in the Forest as yet. Transport for weddings and funerals could be by horse and carriage, or an LPG limousine!
A life-choice that can really make a difference to the environment is that of using cotton nappies rather than disposables. Personal hygiene is another ad man's dream. We spend more and more on keeping "clean", but what does this actually mean? Mostly using lots of chemicals and disposable paper products that we flush away or dump in the bin for someone else to deal with.
Gardens
There are plenty of things that can be done towards making a garden truly environmentally friendly. For new fencing, or garden furniture, make sure it's local or complies with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) standards. Look out for signs advertising free manure, many people who keep animals are only too glad to give it away. There are many organic remedies for pest control, or try and use natural methods juggling with species. If you encourage frogs and toads into the garden they will be effective slug controllers. Broken egg shells surrounding the plant or beer sunk in the ground are other methdos and long planks of wood laid between rows of vegetables are a magnet for slugs during the day - catch them all in one go by inspecting the underside of the plank in the middle of the day. The more diverse the mix of plants, animals, insects and birds in the garden, the more chance you stand of keeping everything in balance. Collect rainwater from roofs in butts to keep you going during dry spells.
COTTON NAPPIES, MotherEase and Sandy's, liners from silk to disposable, Moltex-Oko eco friendly disposables, Trainer pants, feeding accessories, natural potions and lotions, bathtime, bedtime. Out and about and playtime! Cotton Nappies - they save money - the environment - and it's good for your ... more
Excellent value cotton nappies shop and advice service. There may also be the possibility of free promotional or trial packs. Approximately 4% of all household waste is made up of plastic nappies. You can help cut this out by using cotton nappies on your baby.... more
South Wales Nappies offers a Real Nappy Laundry, Hire and Retail service which has now expanded into Gloucestershire. We offer free home consultations to discuss various washable nappies and the options available to parents. In addition to real nappies we also offer home delivery of Ecover refills... more
For over 80 years, Steiner Waldorf schools have offered an holistic, creative and balanced approach to educating the whole person. Our curriculum develops the child's emotional, practical and intellectual abilities while its emphasis on imagination brings depth to every subject. The Forest of Dean ... more
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Leading toilet paper manufacturers are failing to offer a suitably environmentally-friendly product range to UK consumers, according to the results of a new study. The research, which looked at the output of the five companies that make up 75% of the European toilet paper market – Georgia-Pacific, Kimberly-Clark, Metsa Tissue, Procter & Gamble and SCA Tissue - found that despite generally improved ethical performances the manufacturers were still not doing enough. The companies were ranked on a range of criteria including recycled content, wood sourcing, pollution control and transparency. Of the five market leaders, only SCA Tissue could ensure that a significant proportion of its wood fibres didn’t come from poorly-managed forests. While the remaining companies in the study showed awareness of the importance of the issue, none could demonstrate how they effectively avoided timber from unsustainable sources, illegal logging and land rights conflicts. “At a time when the world’s natural forests are under an ever-increasing pressure it is essential that retailers should be offering the most environmentally-friendly tissue products to their customers,” commented Beatrix Richards, Forests Campaigner at WWF. “The levels of recycled fibres being used in toilet paper, paper towels and napkins are still far too low. As a result, trees from natural forests and plantations from around the world are chucked straight into our toilets and bins. The manufacturers themselves may be becoming more responsible but this must be matched by offering a greater range of responsible products,” www.greenconsumerguide.com Monday 16.10.06